Chapter 032: Traitorous Minister 32
Objectively speaking, this place cannot be compared with an inn, but in terms of price, it is relatively affordable. You should know that during the previous provincial examination, one night cost 850 wen, not to mention the current provincial examination. I am afraid that you can't get it without one or two taels of silver for one night.
Furthermore, if you stay in an inn, it is inevitable that someone will do something bad before the exam, such as putting drugs in your food, or deliberately making noise to affect others' studies. Some people will also deliberately slip cheat sheets into others to frame them.
Admittedly, not all people are so bad, but one should always be on guard against others. It's also quite quiet here, away from the commotion before the exams, so I can concentrate on studying.
You have to understand that among the candidates, there are inevitably a few children of powerful figures. If someone invites you to a gathering, not going would offend them, while going would brand you as a "clique." Even worse, if someone else's cheating on the exam is exposed, wouldn't it be unfair for you to be implicated?
"Okay, three hundred wen a day, including accommodation, meals, hot water, and other miscellaneous items. Meals shouldn't be heavy on meat or vegetables, but just the right balance."
At present, the environment and hygiene issues seem to be not bad. They are not the kind of people who would compromise themselves, so they naturally have better requirements for food.
He can do anything but not food, this is his most basic bottom line!
Three hundred coins a day. There are still thirty-two days until the provincial examination. Including today's payment, the total required is nine thousand nine hundred coins. Xiao Chen took out one or two taels of silver and handed it to the young man, "No need to change, just don't make a noise."
The young man smiled happily as he took the silver. He immediately put the silver away carefully and ran to the kitchen to boil water. When the water boiled, he ran out and asked, "Second Master, do you want some tea?"
Of course he didn't have any tea, but some scholars liked tea the most, so he boiled some hot water.
The golden afterglow casts a shadow on the earth, and the clouds in the sky present the last beautiful scene of the day. Obviously, what a tired person needs is not a pot of hot tea, but a hot meal, a good meal, and even a good sleep.
This greeting was not particularly appropriate, but Xiao Yan did not refuse the young man's kindness. He smiled and said, "Put it aside. I'm more used to drinking hot water."
Seeing that he wasn't rejected, the young man breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Do you two have any dietary restrictions? Are our roast duck and water spinach okay?"
Water spinach, also known as water spinach, is usually stir-fried with minced garlic and a little oil, and is very refreshing.
As for the roast duck, it is different from the sliced duck in Beijing. The steps of removing the feathers, blowing air and roasting are similar. It may be that the ducks used are different. The ducks have very little fat and are not as greasy as the sliced ducks. The most delicious part is the roast duck skin.
To make it more delicious, you need to work hard on the seasoning, with a little sweetness and a strong aroma of sauce, which is mostly poured at the end. People in the south prefer this flavor, which goes very well with rice, while people in the north mostly use dough, shredded green onions, shredded cucumbers, and sweet noodle sauce to neutralize the fatness of the roast duck.
The main reason is that the tastes in food are different.
Xiao Yan had no particular food taboos. Although he pursued delicious food, he wasn't the type to bother with anything. As long as it wasn't too hard to eat, it was fine. As for Xiao Chen, his taste was more varied.
The place where they were located was relatively north, and the food was a mix of both the north and the south. In addition, he had lived in the capital in his previous life, and he was not a very picky person, nor did he like to delve into this matter. When he saw Xiao Yan looking at him, he nodded immediately.
"Just as you said, let me buy some more of your fine rice." He took out a tael of silver and said, "Don't worry about the change now. I'll deduct it from you when I need it later."
Compared to noodles, he and Xiao Yan preferred rice. The rice in Zhuzhou City was said to be fragrant and soft, so they naturally wanted to try it.
After receiving the silver, the young man nodded quickly and went back to his room and went out again with the bamboo basket.
Xiao Chen sat for a while and then went back to his room to pack his luggage.
She laid out the sheets, quilt covers and pillowcases she brought with her, put away her clothes, and then took out some books and placed them on the table. She was as diligent as a little bee.
After finishing his work, he placed the clothes he had taken off recently in a wooden basin in the yard and began to wash them with water, which made Xiao Yan feel a little guilty.
Xiao Yan coughed, then took a short stool from the kitchen, placed it next to Xiao Chen, and chatted with him, "It's said that the Chengshufang in Zhuzhou City is quite famous, and that the examination papers of students from all generations are copied there. We don't have many books with us, so why don't we go and take a look tomorrow afternoon?"
The examination situation in each place is different and may be combined with local current affairs. Going out and moving around is also a form of learning. This is why students always visit the countryside and downtown before exams.
Powerful and influential people naturally have their own channels for information and even the direction of the court, while powerless people can only obtain the information they need through "conventional" means.
Otherwise, why would there be so many people who curry favor with the powerful? Aren't they just trying to gain benefits from the children of the powerful?
Xiao Chen changed the basin of water and said, "That's fine, but I've also heard that the tea at Feihe Tower in Zhuzhou City is quite good. Let's go there and try it tomorrow."
Apart from downtown areas and the countryside, teahouses are also the places where news is most widely spread.
With the exam approaching, who would still be thinking about eating, drinking, having fun, and experiencing the customs of ordinary people? It was just an excuse to go out and gather information.
If we don't use these titles, it will appear particularly "utilitarian", so scholars always have to be more tactful.
The old woman was still sitting in the yard without moving. Occasionally, perhaps because she was numb from sitting, she would change her posture, pull at the leaves, and watch the unknown insects flying by. However, since this place must have been fumigated with mugwort, there were no blood-sucking mosquitoes that caused unbearable itching.
Soon, the boy came back with a bamboo basket, closed the gate, and ran to the kitchen to work.
As the sun sets, smoke rises from the kitchen and the tempting aroma of meat wafts in, making you salivate.
The young man brought out a table from the room, placed the roast duck and water spinach on it, and also served two bowls of rice.
"My Lords, the meal is ready."
After he finished speaking, he washed his hands, helped the old woman back to the house, but was stopped by Xiao Yan: "It's okay, let's eat together."
The young man also knew that these two were kind people, so he didn't refuse. He helped the old woman to sit down, added more bowls and chopsticks, and picked up some dishes for the old woman.
The old woman was quite quiet. She would eat whatever was in her bowl. I had never seen her take the initiative to pick up the food from the dish with her chopsticks. She was as innocent as a child, and also had a child's unusual cleverness.
Xiao Yan and Xiao Chen were not nosy people, and they did not deliberately pry into other people's privacy as described in the storybook. Although they may have good intentions, not everyone deserves sympathy and pity.
It can be seen from the fact that this young man could have gained rewards by playing the victim, but he chose to rely on his own labor, that he is not the kind of person who needs pity.
Sometimes pity can be embarrassing, even when it's well-intentioned.
Since there were outsiders around, Xiao Yan and Xiao Chen didn't talk much while eating. They just occasionally sighed that the roast duck here was really good and the sauce was very fragrant, but it would be a bit greasy if you eat too much. It was okay to eat it occasionally, but it was also very delicious with rice.
In the evening, after washing up, the two of them also followed the old woman's example and soaked their feet using mugwort.
Adding mugwort to hot water can calm the mind, refresh the spirit, reduce swelling and detoxify. After a busy day or a long journey, soaking your feet and then taking a nap is very helpful for sleep.
A dreamless night.
The next day, the big roosters raised by nearby households began to crow.
Xiao Yan lay paralyzed on the bed with his eyes half closed. He waited until his sleepiness completely faded before getting up to wash up. Looking at Xiao Chen again, I have to say that Xiao Chen is worthy of being the male protagonist, the kind of male protagonist who lives a very self-disciplined life.
Seeing that he was sweating profusely, he must have finished his morning exercises.
As for Xiao Yan... I'm sorry, if it weren't for the mandatory requirement, he wouldn't be such a self-disciplined and motivated person.
"Tang Rao is out. The food is heating up in the pot. There's porridge, steamed buns, pickles, and some leftover roast duck from last night."
Tang Rao is the name of the young man.
Xiao Yan nodded and walked into the kitchen. A big pot was heating up on the stove. He opened the lid and saw two steamed buns inside.
Xiao Yan placed the steamed bun in his bowl and brought out a bowl of porridge and pickles, leaving the roast duck untouched. It wasn't a matter of whether it was leftover food or not, but rather that he was tired of the roast duck last night and preferred something lighter this morning.
After finishing her meal, the old woman sat in the yard and repeated her actions from yesterday.
Xiao Yan paused, a little hesitant, "Let's just go out like this, okay?"
Xiao Chen knew that Xiao Yan was referring to the old woman. He shook his head and said, "It's okay. Tang Rao said she has always been like this. The children at the end of the alley will help look after her. We are all neighbors, so nothing will happen to her."
Since everything was fine, Xiao Yan didn't think about it anymore. He changed into a pair of soft-soled shoes and went out with Xiao Chen.
Of course, I have to go to Chengshufang in the morning. There are not many students at this time. Even the most diligent candidates will go after Chenshi, when the light is better. If it is later, there will probably be even more people.
Chengshufang is located at the second shop on East Street. No one knows who wrote the plaque, but the characters are vigorous and powerful, showing the gentleman's elegance and talent. It is obvious that it is a calligraphy by a master.
There are many scholars like them who are shocked and stay there when they first see it, and they are no longer surprised.
"Who wrote this? It's probably a masterpiece by everyone!"
"You don't even know this? The Murong family! That contemporary genius known as a child prodigy—Murong Yu!"
As soon as Murong Yu from the Murong family was mentioned, the scholars present already knew him.
The Murong family is a prominent family in the south and also a family of scholars. Their ancestors have produced six top scholars and three powerful officials. They are the face of southern scholars and their pride.
It is said that Murong Yu could recite books at the age of three and compose poems and songs at the age of five. He was proficient in calligraphy and painting, gentle and dignified, and was also known as the Jade-faced Young Master.
It is said that he was supposed to pass away at the age of nine, but his grandparents passed away one after another, which delayed his passing until now. Otherwise, he might be the youngest person in the world to pass the imperial examination.
Xiao Yan and Xiao Chen listened for a while and found it somewhat useful at first, but later on, they just kept listening to Murong's praise and stopped listening.
Chengshufang opened very early. Besides the owner, there were also people who helped out with odd jobs. Judging from their refined manners, they must be part-time scholars. Besides those who bought books, there were also candidates who borrowed books to copy without paying the borrowing fee.
"I want to borrow a book. How do I do this?" Xiao Yan asked.
"It's five cents a day, and you need to deposit one or two taels of silver, with a receipt as proof. If it's overdue or damaged, it will be deducted from the money. Ancient books or original works of masters cannot be borrowed." The odd-job scholar said, pointing to the row of authentic calligraphy and paintings, as well as ancient books displayed on glass.
"There's another option, which is to read on the spot. It only costs one cent, with no limit on the number of copies, until the shop closes. Copying is two cents, and pen, ink, and paper are not included."
Xiao Yan nodded and decided to borrow the book back to read slowly, because the tables here were already crowded with people, so he could only squat in the corner... This was too tiring, unnecessary, really unnecessary, and they didn't lack the money to read the book.
I have to say it’s great to have money!
"I heard that you have copied the precious calligraphy of past students so that students can study..."
The odd-job scholar shook his head. "Sorry, this is only for sale, borrowing, or copying. It's not available for rent."
This is understandable and is also one of Chengshufang’s selling points.
"Okay, please help me take down the five previous years' records of Zhuzhou City's customs and folkways."
The scholar who was doing odd jobs took it out very swiftly and tied it up with a straw rope. "One copy is fifty wen, and the geographical records and other volumes are three hundred wen, totaling five hundred and fifty wen."
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